Retro Gaming Handhelds

Before we get on to retro gaming handhelds, we need to set the scene. For many of a certain age (around that cough cough 40+ mark) we get that nostalgic feeling with a mere mention of Manic Miner in passing conversation. It takes us back to a time when life was simple; come home from school, stuff your face with crisps and drinks, and play on the Speccy (or Amstrad or C64) while you were supposed to be doing your homework!

If that brings back fond memories then you have probably already started looking for which is the best retro gaming handheld to buy, go check our guide for our up to date suggestions. If you do not have a clue what we are talking about, then keep reading.

Since the 1970s when video gaming entered our homes with consoles such as the Atari 2600, and later in the 1980s home computers such as the Commodore 64, gaming has risen in popularity and shows no signs of slowing down. You could buy a retro console with games now, but they are getting rarer each year and can go for extremely high prices. And not forgetting how much space it all takes up and will it still work after all these years. This is where retro gaming handhelds come in.

The whole retro gaming experience can be very daunting when first starting out. With many asking how do you install and set up the emulators, where to find the games, how to set those up. Even experienced gamers can pull their hair out while setting every console up one by one, when all you want to do is play a game from 30 years ago! With retro gaming handhelds, the hard work is already done for you, simply plug in and play!

Over the years retro gaming handhelds have become the best way to jump straight into the action. With companies such as Anbernic making affordable, reliable and easy to use handhelds dedicated to everything retro. Their range of handhelds come in different hardware specifications, vertical or horizontal orientations and even metallic or plastic casing.

If you want to go strictly retro with 8 and 16bit home consoles from Atari up to Mega Drive then their Rockchip RK3326 processor based retro gaming handhelds are the perfect choice. If you want to play something a bit more recent, say PlayStation and PSP, then their RK3399 processor models have the performance to meet the demand.

While Anbernic are considered the most popular choice for plug and play emulation, there are alternatives if you are a bit more experienced and don’t mind a little setting up. With companies such as Retroid offering higher performance retro gaming handhelds running the Android operating system. Not only can you play all the classics, you can go right up to more modern consoles such as the Dreamcast and PSP.

Another highly recommended retro gaming handheld is the Miyoo Mini v2, it is highly portable with an amazing crystal clear display. And not forgetting even higher performance when used with a custom firmware. It is a little more advanced if you want to go the custom firmware route, but the benefits of more emulators and faster speeds are amazing and worthwhile! This tiny handheld is one of our favourites this year!